The New York gala to benefit
El Museo del Barrio
, the city's most prominent Latin American cultural institution, saw 600 people celebrate Testino's career including Kate Winslet. The Oscar winning actress, who was most recently shot by Testino for the cover of British Vogue, and for her Lancôme campaign presented him with an award: an Asprey silver tray signed by 35 of his closest friends and colleagues. These included Tom Ford, Grace Coddington, Sienna Miller, Anna Wintour, Julia Roberts, Demi Moore and Claudia Schiffer. "To be honest it's all a little bit overwhelming." Testino said.

Testino told the Telegraph how over and over again - and for many years - he has been asked who his favourite subject has been during his illustrious career.

"So many people ask me this," he said, "It would have to be Princess Diana, it took my career to another level."

But being asked this question is like asking a parent of five children to pick a favourite, he added.

"Top five? Kate Moss has been one of my favourites for a long time. I have worked a lot with her. I think I have managed to document her through the 20 years that we have worked together. But there are many people like that: Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, it is hard to pick just one."

He was 24 when he picked up his first camera. "I was pretty useless. I had to direct people around me to help me do it. But I was good with a subject."

And that is the key to Testino's enduring career. He has shot the greatest supermodels and most talented actresses for the world's top fashion magazines because he has the ability to capture the beauty in each subject. He is affable both on set and when it comes to dealing with the editors.

Carine Roitfeld, the former editor of French Vogue, who has worked with Testino for the last 25 years, told the Telegraph:

"What I love about him I can tell him anything and that is very rare with a photographer. If I don't like these shoes, or I don't like this picture I can tell him. It is his complicity… to be able to say what you want to someone. I just finished a book about my work so far and 80 per cent of it is with Mario."

Testino talked of his special affinity with England, telling the Telegraph:

"England is the country where I learned my profession. They are the ones that trained me they are the ones that believed in me. I owe a lot to your country.

"For me photographing the Royals is my way of giving back to the country: documenting this tradition and the history. For a Peruvian - apart from Paddington Bear - there are very few of us that can be a part of it. I feel very attached to the English."

In a speech given by Winslet, she talked of Mario's ability to take a woman's insecurities and quickly dispose of them.

Testino explained it this way, saying, "I have been very lucky I have been given this ability to love people, I like people. Whoever I meet, I always feel that the photograph belongs to them and not to me. I have always tried to make sure they look their best.

"I have started with a certain sense of aesthetics where I know it looks more beautiful like this or like that, and I have let that be my talent. Maybe it seems a little bit superficial, but I have learned to accept it and enjoy it."

Winslet began her speech by joking, "the two other Kates, Kate Moss and Kate Middleton, were unavailable so you have to make do with me."

She then went on to pay tribute to the photographer in affectionate terms.

"No matter the subject, we all have one thing in common, we know that we are in the best hands and he will talk us into doing absolutely anything for him and why? Because we trust him. We know that he will create a unique and disarming, beautiful and timeless image that goes beyond fashion, beyond art and more often than not beyond our own expectations and interpretations of ourselves.

"Not only is he capable of assembling teams of the most beautiful camera assistants to keep us all focused, but he surrounds himself with people with whom he can collaborate thus creating a working atmosphere that is full of professionalism and dedication. This in itself is a joy to be part of.

"His vision is clear and direct and honest. He never fails to challenge himself and his subjects. And you know that his biggest strength without fail is making women look beautiful.

"So when Mario turns to you and says, 'it's beautiful, but I think it would work better naked, no?" How can one refuse? No matter what insecurities about oneself a subject may have, Mario makes them go away like a magician. One moment you are in the hair and makeup chair fully clothed and wishing you had smoother skin, longer legs and smaller feet and then Mario comes in and in that charming way he takes you by the hand and says, 'Don't worry it's going to be amazing.'"

Testino says that his parents we disappointed when he first announced he wanted to be a photographer. They had expected him to become a lawyer, a doctor or an architect.

So he set off for London and made his career amongst the fashion world there, before becoming an international star himself.

"When I started, people told me I wouldn't make it. Many people didn't believe I would get to be where I am today. Something tells me there is something I did right."